Welcome to Kiribati

Dear Family,

Oh I just want to tell you everything about Kiribati! Well start from the beginning.

We left the Provo MTC and flew from Salt Lake to Hawaii and stayed there for the night. The next morning we got up and caught our flight to Fiji. We got to Fiji and weren't allowed to leave the country because we didn't have any work permits...long story, can't quite remember the details, but we were at the airport for a looong time:)...after we got to our hotel in Fiji it wasn't payed for, so we called the travel office because we had no money left (we had to pay for our hotel in Hawaii too). By the time we got everything settled and into our room we had 45 minutes to sleep. Our flight was at 5:00AM, so we had to be there by 2:00AM. We got on the flight..and made it to Kiribati.......

Now the Adventure starts....

The first thing that greeted me in Kiribati was the humidity. It is so humid here you can almost SEE it. Serious. I walked down the steps off of the plane and was then welcomed by all the children of the village with their faces pushed up against the fence. (The planes don't come often, so it's a big deal..and everyone wants to see who has come.) They have these huge grins on their faces and point and laugh saying, "Imatong!" (pronounced ee-meh-tong! Or white person.) It's not all the common to see a white female in Kiribati and it makes me laugh every time they say it. I get called that all day everyday! I have never been so informed of my skin color..but it is so darn funny when the little kids say it! I met my trainer, Sister Lavulavu from Hawaii and she is INCREDIBLE. What a powerful force here in Kiribati! I was then shown my new home...which is called the Pig House because there are loads of pigs next to us...and the work begun! 

A funny story I've gotta tell you. Sister Lavulavu and I were waiting at the gate for our investigator to attend church with us but after 15 minutes we decided to go inside (they didn't show). We were late so we sat in the back. (Truth: There is a total of 19 ceiling fans in the chapel). I didn't understand and of it..so my mind was kinda wondering..and all of a sudden the whole congregation turned their brown little heads towards me. I panicked..and look at Sister Lavulavu...she then whispers, "Bishop just announced you will be speaking next..." I nervously laughed...and walked up  the stand. I started it with the traditional, "Kam na non mauri moa!" (You say hello first) Then they all say mauri...but I messed it up..so everyone just started laughing...so I started laughing too..I bore a total of two sentences in Kiribati and then switched to English (If they are a member, then they speak English..) and bore my testimony. Afterward they all came up to my saying, "Ko bati n taetae n Kiribati" You are good at speaking Kiribati! Which I just laughed at...cause their are too nice to say anything else. Which brings me to the topic of the people....   

The first day I was here I learned an important lesson about Kiribati from my trainer when she said, "No one is homeless in Kiribati because everyone is." And it's true, I see how they use a piece of cardboard for a door to their house. I see how men, women, and children use the bathroom right in front of me. I see how there are no fridges because they have no food. But these people, man these people...I watched a whole village of children chase a grocery sack in the wind with all the joy and laughter in the world combined. I watch how the Stake President walks into church with flip flops because it is the very best pair of shoes that he owns. I watch as they feed the missionaries...saving the whole weeks worth of food to offer us their best..and they sit..with their hungry wife and children and watch us eat. These people...they mean so much to me. I don't quite know how to process it all...but I am experiencing so much.

And even though I shower with cockroaches (they come up the pipe when we shower), and eat raw chicken, and sit in front of the fan at the end of the day and still sweat because it is that hot...I love this place. I know this is where I belong for the next 16.5 months. There has been some hard hard times these past five days..and I know there will be more to come...but I know why I'm here so I stay.

I love this gospel so much. I love that the gospel is for everyone...rich or poor..and that the Holy Ghost continues to testify on this island as it does on the four corners of the earth. I love how pure these people are...a little population tucked away from the world, who still cooks over fires in their backyards... I love that Heavenly Father really does remember the "isles of the sea."

I am grateful that the gospel has so much to offer to a place where the people have so little.

Until next week,
Sister Johnson

PS. Here is my mailing information. To send a letter, write exactly this, it will be the same my whole mission:

Sister Johnson Service Center

Moroni High School

P.O. Box 217

Tarawa, Kiribati

If it's a package then,

Sister Johnson 

P.O. Box 1107

Majuro, MH
96960

Marshall Islands

Sure love you family! Thank you prayers & support!
sis j

 Our house! The mission couple told us before we got here, that although our houses may be different from what we are used to...it is honestly the best Kiribati has to offer.

 This is our living room/bedroom. At night we pull out two foam mattresses and sleep on that :)

Walking to an investigators house to teach about the book of mormon! wahoo!

This is our bathroom! no shower curtin..but there is water! (but only if the electricity is working. A pump pumps water out from the well outside.)